Cloud Computing
Final Report
Prepared For:
Background and Objectives
To better understand the current landscape of virtualization and cloud computing, Novell commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a survey among IT decision makers at organizations with 1,000 or more employees.
Key objectives of the study were to:
• Assess current and planned future levels of virtualization and cloud computing; and,
• Explore perceptions regarding public and private cloud computing and the differences between the two cloud computing platforms.
Methodology
The survey was conducted online between August 19-31, 2010.A total of 210 IT decision makers were interviewed. All respondents currently work at organizations of 1,000 employees or more, with titles ranging from director to CEO and owner. All respondents have direct
involvement in decision making regarding their organization’s IT strategy – specifically as it relates to cloud computing and virtualization.
For the purposes of this report, the term “ITDM” will be used to refer to the IT decision makers surveyed for this project: ITDMs who work at organizations of 1,000 or more employees with direct involvement in IT strategy decision making.
Total sample data are weighted to be representative of U.S. businesses with 1,000 or more employees on the basis of number of employees.
Executive Summary
Cloud Computing Profile
Utilization of cloud computing platforms is common for organizations of 1,000 or more employees. The majority of ITDMs report their organization currently uses either both private and public cloud
computing platforms, or only utilizes private cloud computing.
• Around one-third of ITDMs (34%) report they currently use both private and cloud computing.
• Around 3 in 10 (31%) currently use private cloud computing only.
• About 1 in 10 (12%) currently use only public cloud computing.
• Almost a quarter (22%) do not currently use cloud computing at all.
Utilization of cloud computing platforms is likely to increase. Almost all ITDMs plan to increase their organization’s use of cloud computing in the future. The majority plan to increase either only private cloud utilization or both private and public cloud utilization.
• 43% of ITDMs plan increased use of both private and public cloud platforms.
• Almost 3 in 10 (29%) plan increased use of private cloud platforms only.
• Less than 1 in 10 (5%) plan for increased use of public cloud platforms only.
• 12% plan to maintain current usage levels of cloud computing.
Perceptions of Cloud Computing
ITDMs not only see their own organization’s utilization of cloud computing increasing, the majority also agree that the use of cloud computing will increase in general as current IT platforms need to be replaced. Most believe that cloud computing will occur alongside, instead of replacing, company-owned data centers.
• 92% of ITDMs agree the use of cloud computing will increase as current IT platforms need to be replaced.
• Almost 9 in 10 (87%) ITDMs agree that cloud computing will occur alongside, instead of replacing, company-owned data centers.
Although many organizations currently utilize public cloud computing platforms, the majority of ITDMs are concerned about security issues inherent in public cloud computing. Most report it is more difficult to maintain regulatory and policy compliance in public cloud systems than in private cloud systems and that confidential data is more secure in private cloud platforms than public platforms.
• 91% of ITDMs are concerned about security issues inherent in public cloud computing.
• Almost 9 in 10 (86%) ITDMs say confidential data is more secure in private cloud systems than public cloud systems.
• 81% of ITDMs say it is more difficult to maintain regulatory and policy compliance in public cloud systems than in private cloud systems.
Executive Summary
Perceptions of Cloud Computing (cont.)
Some of the concern about data security in public cloud platforms comes from the perception that outside vendors are not as diligent about data security as internal IT departments are. The majority of ITDMs are also concerned about levels of IT service with most public cloud computing arrangements.
• About three-quarters (76%) of ITDMs say outside vendors are not as diligent about data security as internal IT departments.
• About two-thirds (68%) of ITDMs say it is difficult to ensure consistent levels of IT service to employees with most public cloud computing arrangements.
• 60% of ITDMs feel it is unclear in public cloud computing what the responsibilities are of the client and the vendor.
The majority of ITDMs feel that private cloud computing offers their organizations most of the advantages of public cloud computing without the security and compliance issues, and offers a management framework that can span heterogeneous infrastructure.
• About 8 in 10 (83%) ITDMs say private cloud computing offers most of the advantages of public cloud computing without the security and compliance issues.
• A strong majority (93%) also agree that private cloud computing platforms offer a management framework that can span heterogeneous infrastructure
Executive Summary
Perceptions of Cloud Computing (cont.)
The majority of ITDMs feel that private clouds are the next logical step for organizations already using virtualization and agree that the adoption of private cloud computing is increasing.
most often. Most ITDMs also report that quicker IT response time and resource scalability are benefits of utilizing a private cloud computing platform.
• 55% of ITDMs say improved efficiency is a benefit of private cloud computing platform.
• 53% of ITDMs report that data security is a benefit of private cloud computing.
• About half of ITDMs say quicker IT response time (51%) and resource scalability (51%) are benefits of utilizing a private cloud computing platform.
• 50% of ITDMs say a lower cost of upkeep is a benefit of private cloud computing.
• About 4 in 10 (43%) of ITDMs report that data integrity is a benefit of private cloud computing.
• Over a third (39%) of ITDMs say regulatory compliance is a benefit of private cloud computing.
• 37% of ITDMs say freedom from maintaining hardware is a benefit of private cloud computing.
• About a third (34%) of ITDMs report that a benefit of utilizing a private cloud computing platform is management of heterogeneous infrastructure.
• 31% of ITDMs say lower initial costs is a benefit of private cloud computing.
Executive Summary
Perceptions of Cloud Computing (cont.)
Although the majority of ITDMs report that their organization will increase its use of private cloud computing , and also believe that adoption of private cloud computing is increasing in general, they also mention some possible barriers that some companies may face to implementing private cloud computing. Initial costs and security concerns are the possible barriers mentioned most.
• 53% of ITDMs say the initial cost is a barrier to implementing private cloud computing for some companies.
• Half (50%) of ITDMs report security concerns are a barrier to implementing private cloud computing for some companies.
• 45% of ITDMs believe that a lack of information is a barrier to implementing private cloud computing for some companies.
• Almost a third (31%) of ITDMs say the cost of upkeep is a barrier to implementing private cloud computing for some companies.
Despite some concerns about data integrity and security, most ITDMs also agree that public cloud computing platforms offer benefits such as freedom from maintaining hardware and a lower cost of upkeep.
• About two-thirds (68%) of ITDMs say freedom from maintaining hardware is a benefit of utilizing a public cloud computing platform.
• 60% report a lower cost of upkeep as a benefit of public cloud computing.
• A majority (59%) of ITDMs say resource scalability is a benefit of public cloud computing.
• About half of ITDMs say lower initial costs (53%) and improved efficiency (51%) are benefits of public cloud computing.
• 37% of ITDMs believe quicker IT response time is a benefit of public cloud computing.
• Less than 2 in 10 ITDMs feel that data integrity (18%) or data security (16%) are benefits of public cloud computing.
